Blog by author, Clare Jayne

Top Ten Classic Historical Romance Novels and Plays

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (1813) – The story of Elizabeth Bennett and Mr Darcy, loved across the world and made into many films and TV programmes, has to be top of this list of classic historical romances. Austen’s novel is filled with wit, excitement, misunderstandings and the search for love. An earlier version of the novel, given the name First Impressions, was rejected by a publisher.

Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare (1597) – This classic play tells of the tragic romance between a young man and woman whose families are at war with each other. It has been performed on stage countless times as well as being the basis for many films, musicals and operas.

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (1847) – This is a wonderful tale of a plain, free-spirited governess falling for her employer only to learn of the devastating secret he has kept from her. It combines a love story with paranormal and religious elements, highlights social problems of its time and has a hero and heroine unlike any other. There have been a number of film and TV versions of the book including the 1943 film starring Joan Fontaine and Orson Welles and the 2011 film starring Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender.

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier (1938) – A young, newly married woman nearly wrecks her chance at happiness with her fear that her husband will never love her as much as he loved his deceased first wife. This novel was a best-seller when it was first released and has remained popular ever since, including having various films and TV series based on it, including the famous 1940 Alfred Hitchcock film starring Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine.Buy at Amazon UKBuy at Amazon USA

Much Ado about Nothing by William Shakespeare (1623) – This comedy focuses on two sets of couples, the relationship between the older Beatrice and Benedick being full of wit, hurt, misunderstanding and, ultimately, joy and much of its humour coming from their bantering conversations. Of all Shakespeare’s comedies, this is the one most often adapted into for stage.

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens (1859) – While this novel tells of unrequited love, the anti-hero makes the ultimate sacrifice in the name of that love, bringing a haunting humanity to the events set during the French Revolution. There have been a number of film and TV versions of the book, the most well-known being the 1958 film featuring Dirk Bogarde and Dorothy Tutin.Buy for free at Amazon UKBuy at Amazon USA

Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak (1957) – This is another book about love and loss, with a doctor falling for a young woman during the Russian Revolution. In 1958 Pasternak was given the Nobel Prize for Literature. The novel was made into the famous 1965 David Lean film starring Julie Christie and Omar Sharif as well as other films and series since then.Buy at Amazon UKBuy at Amazon USA

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller (2011) – Despite knowing from the start that the central characters are doomed, this award-winning novel – based on The Iliad by Homer – is compelling and the romance between Achilles and Patroclus is beautifully told.Buy at Amazon UKBuy at Amazon USA

Daniel Deronda by George Elliot (1876) – The title character is torn between two woman and the fate of all three is told in this gripping novel. Deronda is Jewish and the book was partly written to change the prejudice of the times towards Jews. It was the last finished novel that George Elliot wrote. It has been adapted for film, TV and stage, including the 2002 British Academy Award winning series starring Hugh Dancy and Romola Garai.Buy for free at Amazon UKBuy at Amazon USA

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy was first published in serialised instalments between 1875 and 1877. Author Dostoyevski called it “flawless as a work of art”. The novel’s title character is a married woman in 19th century Russia who has an affair that ruins her life. This is one of the first novels to use a stream-of-consciousness style of writing. It has been adapted for stage, TV, radio, film and opera.

Campbell & MacPherson Historical Mystery Series

Complications

Free Series Guide and Story

Get my Guide to the Campbell & MacPherson historical mystery series, as well as "A Lively Christmas Season", a free short sequel to "Complications", and details of my latest books and special offers by joining my e-mail newsletter.